Easter Island - Rapa Nui

Day 1 : Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Arrive on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 : Rapa Nui

This morning visit Orongo, Rano Kau and Vinapu, exploring archaeological sites where you can marvel at the Make-Make ceremonial village and Tangata Manu, as well as the impressive crater of Rano Kau, the largest and deepest on the island. Visit the platform (ahu) with the best carved rocks, where you can also see moai and pukao remains.

This afternoon the focus is on understanding how the ancient islanders connected with celestial and astronomical events. Take a 20-minute walk to Ana te Pahu, a large underground cave located in the interior of the island. This cave once served as a tribal residence, as it contained a source for fresh water and a diversity of cultivated plants. Its name, Te Pahu, means drum in Rapanui, referring to its layer of petrified lava which resounds when jumped on, just like a drum would.

Next is Ahu Akivi, one of the most majestic places on the island. Ahu Akivi features a great platform decorated with seven restored statues representing the seven explorers who arrived on the island to open the way to Ariki Hotu Matu´a. This place was built around the 15th century, with a special astronomical orientation important not just for the daily functioning of the tribe, but also for the spiritual ceremonies of the ancient Rapa Nui. You may also find the crematorium remains, where there were human bones found as well as small statues.

Later, continue to the Puna Pau quarry which is the crater of an old volcano and the source of the raw material used to build the pukaos (hat like head dress) that were used to crown the moais.

Day 3 : Rapa Nui

Today you follow in the footsteps of the first King of the island, Ariki Hotu Matu´a. It is said that a dream inspired him to visit and settle on Easter Island. Visit five archeological sites including Akahanga, Rano Raraku and Ahu Tongariki, important places for the Rapa Nui culture, located in the south coast. Enjoy lunch at the home of a local family, seeing their garden and experiencing Rapa Nui hospitality and gastronomy.

After lunch visit Te Pito Kura, through the internal highway of the island. This archeological site, known as the navel of the world, has a platform that until today has maintained intact with its moai. This moai is the biggest sculpture ever to have been transported from the Rano Raraku quarry and lifted over its ahu.

Our last steps are reserved for Anakena, one of the most important beaches in the history of Easter Island, since according to tradition, it was here where the first king of the island, the Ariki Hotu Matu´a disembarked with his men and established the first settlement that gave origin to the Rapa Nui culture. In this same place we will find two ahus and their respective moais.

Day 4 : Rapa Nui

Transfer to the airport for your onward arrangements.